Cynthia Sass

Cynthia Sass, MPH, MA, RD, CSSD is a nationally known nutrition and health expert and holds two master's degrees--in nutrition science and in public health--and is Board Certified as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics. She is active in both the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Cynthia is the creator and co-author of the Flat Belly Diet.

In her Showcase U blog Cynthia shares the smarts you need to make the food you eat a teammate in your game plan for athletic excellence.

Learn more about Cynthia at: www.cynthiasass.com

Most Recent Blog Entries

Nick Saban back to LSU and Baton Rouge
By Chad Durbin, Showcase U Co-founder
November 08, 2008

Eat More to Lose
By Cynthia Sass
November 07, 2008

Stay Healthy Strategies
By Cynthia Sass
October 30, 2008

Happy Halloween!
By Javair Gillett
October 30, 2008

Joe the Lumber? World Series 2008
By Chad Durbin, Showcase U Co-founder
October 28, 2008


 

July 14, 2008

Diet, ADHD & Athletes

By Cynthia Sass

Throughout my years as a sports nutritionist, I’ve met more and more young athletes who’ve been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Many experts believe that young people with ADHD tend to be drawn toward sports, and what an athlete eats can aggravate this condition (that’s important to know since studies show that ADHD can impair coordination and motor skills).


The #1 ingredient in the hot seat right now is artificial colors: Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, and Yellow 6. These eight provide the hues for a number of food products, from candy to BBQ sauce. But activists have called them the "secret shame" of the food industry, and say they should be banned by the Food and Drug Administration.


The consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has petitioned the FDA to require a warning label on foods that contain any artificial dyes, and has considered requesting an outright ban. The appeal has the support of 19 well-known psychiatrists, toxicologists, and pediatricians.


Studies show that kids’ behavior improves when these artificial colorings are removed from their diets, and worsens when they're added in, but the amount of these dyes certified for use in foods has more than quadrupled since 1995.


I have pretty strong feelings about artificial additives – unnatural colors, flavors, and preservatives aren’t needed and don’t belong in our food supply. Fortunately, more and more food companies are choosing to do away with them.


The best way for you to avoid them is to ditch the junk habit in favor of more whole foods (i.e. fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, etc.) and read ingredient lists. Bottom line: whether you have ADHD or not, the old saying holds true—you are what you eat!

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Enjoy this blog post and want to read more by this blogger?

View all the archived blogs by this author by clicking on the orange bolded underlined date in the calendar above. Change the calendar month to find earlier blogs.

Welcome to my blog!
May 05, 2008

Step Away From the Rockstar
May 12, 2008

Immune Boosting Foods
May 19, 2008

Energy Bars – Part 1
May 24, 2008

Superfood Fruit Juices
June 03, 2008

Fake Sugars Aren’t Athlete Friendly
June 10, 2008

Fast Food Follies
June 16, 2008

Back to energy bars! Here’s part 2. Hope it’s helpful!
June 23, 2008

Mediterranean-ize Your Meals
June 28, 2008

Do You Struggle with Body Image Issues?
July 07, 2008

Diet, ADHD & Athletes
July 14, 2008

5 ‘Healthy’ Foods That Aren’t
July 21, 2008

5 Foods With a Bad Rap
July 28, 2008

Learn to Love Your Veggies!
August 07, 2008

Add Some Exotic Fruit to Your Training Table Today
August 13, 2008

Wings
August 21, 2008

Preserve Muscle with Produce!
September 08, 2008

Stay Healthy Strategies
October 30, 2008

Eat More to Lose
November 07, 2008

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